Lighting fixture



Oct. 16, 1934. IR. oRTH LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan. 20. 1933 ATTORN EYPatented Oct. 16, 1934 LIGHTING FIXTURE Richard cia., Philadelphia, Pa.,assignor to Gill Glass & Fixture Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication January 20, 1933, Serial No;`652,648 I oiaimg.A (ci. 24o-78)The present invention relates to lighting xtures.

Lighting units of the type employing a single light bulb are generallyprovided with a pend- 5 ant lamp socket about which is placed Van opaque-socket lcover designed to conceal the socket. As this socket cover isopaque, it tends to cast a shadow on the ceiling. It appears dark anduninteresting when the iixture is l() viewed from the side.

The present invention contemplates a lighting xture having a diilusingsocket cover preferably made of material which is optically similar tothe material of the shade employed for screening oft direct light at theordinary angles of observation.

By employing a luminous socket cover one obtains a fixture having a muchimproved appearance, especially inasmuch as the socket 2Q cover andshade may have substantially the same intensity of light so that theobserver receives the impression of a single light source extending fromthe bottom to the top of the xture. Furthermore, the employment oi adiffusing socket cover tends to reduce the shadow and provide more evenceiling illumination.

Other and further objects oi the invention will appear as thedescriptionproceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, tWo

oi the many embodiments in which the invention may take form, it beingunderstood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather thanlimiting the same. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View with parts in elevation showing a pendantlighting fixture;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken in the direction of the line 2-2 oiFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the lighting fixtureillustrating the contrast of the lighted fixture against a background;and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified construction:

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the

455 lighting iixture or luminair is shown as a pendant semidirectlighting xture intended for the lighting oi offices and the like. Itmay, however, be used as an indirect lighting iixture or the parts maybe inverted and embodied in a lamp.

A wire carrying stem is indicated at 10. This stem is secured to a lampsocket 11 in any convenient manner, and, as here shown, carries anannular member 12 of somewhat larger diameter than the lamp socket. Thelamp bulb 13 is carried in the socket in the usual manner. The member 12is drilled to receive twoup- Wardly extending threaded members 14 and15l carried by a ring 16. This ring is adapted to pass by the lampsocket and is of slightly larger outer diameter than the member 12; Thering may be supported in position by nuts indicated at 17. A socketcover 20, preferably made of comparatively dense diffusing glass, isheld in place by the ring 16. Felt washers 21 may be employed ifdesired. This arrangement provides for clamping the socket coversecurely so as to prevent rattling.

The ring 16 carries a shade support in the form of a harp 22, asindicated. The lower end of this harp carries a threaded stem 23 adaptedto receive a shade 24 and a securing nut 25. This shade is preferablymade of diffusing glass. It may be decorated or rendered more or lessopaque, if desired. The shade is preferably clamped against washer 26and is therefore held securely in place below the lamp bulb. A iinishingmember 27 may be held on the lower end of the stem 23 by an ornamentalnut 28.

It will be noted from the drawing that the lower edge 29 of the socketcover is in substantially the same plane as the upper edge 30 of theshade 2e, so that the bright light source is not in the range oi visionwhen the fixture is viewed from ordinary angles of observation. Wherethe shade and socket cover are made of glass of about the same opticalcharacteristic, one sees a fixture such as indicated in Fig. 3. The

kentire shade and socket cover appear luminous and one receives theimpression that there is but one piece of glass. The iixture may beeasily taken apart for re-lamping and cleaning.

Fig. 4 shows a slightly modified form of construction according to whicha glass cylinder 40 is supported on a shade holding device el formed outof bent straps. This socket cover will appear luminous when the lampbulb is lighted.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms andconstructions within the scope of the claims, and I wish it to beunderstood that the particular forms shown are but two of the manyforms. Various modications and changes being possible, I do not other-Wise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A luminair having a lamp socket, a lamp bulb carried thereby, adiiiusing socket cover about the socket and neck of the lamp, and anupwardly opening translucent shade of substantially larger diameter thanthe socket cover, the upper edge of the shade and the lower edge of thesocket cover being in substantially the same plane, the lament of thebulb being substantially below the upper edge of the shade, so thatdirect light is emitted through a predetermined zone and sothat thevlamp bulb is screened against direct observation throughout otherafngies, a socket cover support, and a shade support carried by thecover support and extending down through the socket cover and about thebulb.

2. A luminair having a lamp socket, .a light source in the form of anincandescent lamp bulb carried thereby, a diiusing socket cover aboutthe socket and neck of the lamp for intercepting light emitted in thegeneral direction of the socket and through a predetermined vangle fromthe axis of the bulb, and a shade about the bulbous portion of the lampbulb, the shade being made of material optically similar to that of thesocket cover whereby the shade and cover appear integral when viewedfrom an angle outside the zone of duect light and whereby diiused lightfrom both diflusers is available; said shade having a free edge ofsubstantially larger diameter than the socket cover, and approximatelylin the plane of the socket cover edge, whereby direct light and lightreflected by the shade is emitted through a zone outside Vthe socketcover and direct light is cut oilc at angles beyond said zone.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a lamp socket, a lamp bulb carriedthereby, a member to the rear of the socket andl of larger diameter thanthe socket, a tubular diffusing glass socket cover having an inwardlyextending ange adjacent said member, and means for securing the flangeto the member.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a lamp socket, .a lamp bulb carriedthereby, a member to the rear of the socket and of larger diameter than`the socket, a tubular diffusing glass socket cover having an inwardlyextending flange adjacent saidmembenaring inside the socket cover, andmeans for detachably securing the ring to the .member so as to supportthe socket cover.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a lamp socket, a lamp bulb carriedthereby, a member to the rear of the socket and of larger diameter thanthe socket, a tubular diffusing glass socket cover having an inwardlyextending arige adjacent said member, a ring inside the socket cover,means for detachably securing the ring to the member so as to supportthe socket cover, a shade holder carried by the ring and extending'beyond the lamp bulb, and a'shade carried by theY 'free end of theshade holder.

- RICHARD ORTH,

